Interior fake brick wall facade?

[Dover]

Has anyone ever used a brick veneer/facade as an interior design solution? I'm curious how it looks up close and how difficult the process is. I'm considering something like this for my kitchen instead of tile or other treatment (between the bottom of the cabinets and the counter tops). I'd like to paint the brick too, because I like painted brick and it might be more believable. This particular company uses real clay bricks 1/2" thick, instead of a mold or other faux material, that slide into a grid and cling to it via adhesives. Then you just apply the mortar and point it.
Just curious if anyone has any experience with this product or something like it?

Also curious how to obtain a certain look, though this might be difficult to describe. Have you ever seen brick or stone walls that look like the mortar has been brushed over the surface so that the surface is older and less chiseled/hard edged looking? I've seen it alot and like it but don't know how it's achieved. Thanks!


http://www.brickit.com/why.asp

http://www.brickit.com/apps.asp

This is sort of the look I'm after:



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[Kingshakabobo]

1. I've never used it, but from the looks of that product, you shouldn't have....

......any trouble obtaining the realistic appearance. It looks like a good quality product.

It sounds like the look you are after is where they over-fill the mortar? I think there is one example on the website?

Cool product! I'm saving this link for my bag of tricks.

[Dover]

Yes it looks like a good product and fairly easy.

But of course when you get into it there are things like corners and molding, etc. to go around that might require half a brick, etc. I would need to talk with the company rep and get alot clearer about just what's involved. Would love to speak to someone who has tried it.

I didn't see any examples of the surface look I'm trying to achieve on that site.
Where did you see it?
The treatment I'm thinking of looks like the entire surface has been covered over with a thin wash of lime/mortar that makes the whole wall seem softer and more uniform. Maybe this surface technique began as a way to preserve and prevent crumbling brick dust, like a sealer of sorts. Anyway, it seems to have become a style of surfacing as well. I keep thinking it must have a technical name that would help with googling information about it.

[Kingshakabobo]

3. It was one of the revolving images on..

http://www.brickit.com/why.asp

...this page....upper right bar pic....Like that?

[Dover]

4. Maybe so. It's a small picture, so hard to really examine it.

but maybe that is all there is to it. Just allowing the mortar to spill onto the brick surface.
Thanks.

[Dover]

2. oops...double post.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. A cautionary note .......

....... you may be less than thrilled with using anything as rough textures as brick (even painted brick) in that 'splash zone' between your counter and wall cabinets. It will get REAL hard to keep it clean when the normal, day-to-day 'muckies' get on it and you try to scrub it clean.

Can you consider a 3x6 subway tile instead of brick?

[Dover]

6. Hmmmm......a good point and an excellent suggestion!

I had to look up 'subway tiles' to see what they were. Duh.....they are in the same style as the old subway tiles. That might be a good alternative, and from what I could tell they come in non-glossy, semi and high gloss finishes. They don't visually read as brick even though they are the same dimensions, so I'll have to think about that. I'd also need to look into how easy they are to install.

If I stick with the bricks, though, I should definitely consider putting a back spalsh in when I put in the new counter (and begin the brick above that) and possibly do something more easy to clean behind the stove area. Hey, maybe I could find a subway tile to use there! I wonder if they might even be compatible with the metal grid system that comes with the Brick-It product?

[Warpy]

7. Please explore ceramic tile instead

Yes, the faux brick is doable and it won't look that bad. However, it's going to be an absolute bitch to keep clean, and the area above the countertops in a kitchen is an area you will want to keep meticulously clean.

You might be able to find tile in the right shape to give the look without giving you a breeding ground for bacteria.

[mzteris]

8. semi related question

I think this type thing is what the previous owners used for the entry hall/downstairs bath - only it's shiny and yellowish-gold with brown edges (I kid you not.)

I HATE IT! I absolutely hate it.

But removing it would be a bitch.

Covering it - via plywood - or even "self-leveler" stuff - might entail raising the toilet, etc -

so after reading this, I was thinking - maybe PAINTING IT? With some type of poly something sealant. I want easy cleanup - BUT - I don't want slick as you-know-what (it already IS to some extent!)

Any comments on that?